Here, we’re going to talk about how you can still put your old screens to good use even after you’ve switched to a more recent model. Specifically, we’re going to tell you how you can turn that old Android phone or tablet into a digital photo frame for use in your abode. After all, what good are digital photos if you don’t have a way to show them off? Why not put your old device to work doing just that?

Read More: The Most Protective Cases for Your Android Phone

How it Works
Whether you want a digital photo album on display in your home or just want something pretty to look at while you’re not using your new phone, a tablet can be converted into a digital photo display rather easily. For Android smartphones, this process is just as easy. In fact, all you need is a standing display and a photo streaming app.

Fortunately for you, there are quality options available. There’s the Photo Slides app, which uses the high computing power of Android OS to turn your device into a high definition photo frame, complete with visual effects, touch screen controls and lucid display quality perfect for large quantities of images. Photo Slides is especially useful when showing off photos to friends and family while hosting gatherings at your place.

Conversely, if you want something more suited for passive photo slideshows to display in the background while you’re doing something else around the house, there’s the Dayframe app for Android OS. Dayframe works by downloading photos from a variety of social media sites — Flickr, Facebook, Instagram and Dropbox, among others — as well as from your camera roll and saved photos to create a dynamic slideshow that transitions on its own. What sets this app apart, though, is the degree of customization it permits, such as organizing the photos you wish to display by category (i.e. photos from your trip to Florida) and controlling how long photos are displayed before moving to the next.

No matter what app you choose, both options give your old Android device an extended shelf life once you turn it into the most lively photo display on your shelf.

But luckily there is a use for your old Android that both makes sense and works effectively. The answer? Turn it into a wireless surveillance camera. Intrigued? Read on to learn how to do it.

Read More: 4 Best Android Camera Apps

Turning Your Android Into an IP Webcam

1. Download the IP Webcam app from the Google Play Store.
2. In your unused phone, download the IP Webcam app. This means, of course, that you’ll have to keep your unused phone connected to Wi-Fi.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the “Start a Server” button.
4. Below the screen, you’ll see your IP address. Your IP address will be written in this format: XXX.XXX.X.XX:XXXX.
5. Copy down your IP address. Copy the address into a browser window on your computer. This will bring up IP Webcam Control on your computer.
6. Click the “Flash” button to add video and audio.

What You Can do After You’ve Transformed Your Device into a Security Camera
After you’ve changed your device into a security camera, you can use it in many different ways. First, you can set up the phone in a place that lets you stream live audio and video from your phone to wherever you are. This can help you catch a thieving babysitter or watch your kids’ milestones. Additionally, you can record live audio and video on your camera so you can watch footage later on.

As long as you have a device with a browser option, you always will have control over your unused phone’s camera. From there, you can control where the camera is pointing so you can see around wherever you’ve put the camera. Further, you can change your password from your browser if you feel your IP Webcam app password has been compromised.

Even though your security camera isn’t your main device, it still likely has your information somewhere on it. That’s why it’s so important to continue protecting your phone with PSafe Total. PSafe’s Anti-virus feature scans your phone’s files and SD cards 24-hours a day so your phone is always safe from intruders.